DEC REQUEST DS2012-034 STAFF ANALYSIS

ISSUE: DS2012-034. Petitioner seeks a Declaratory Statement on ASCE Standard 7-10 Table 1.5-1(2) and Table 1604.5 of the Florida Building Code, Building.

Petitioner in DS2012-034 seeks clarification of the following questions:

1. What risk category would my telecommunications equipment fall underASCE7-10 Table 1.5-1

2. What risk category would my telecommunication equipment fall under FBC Table 1604.5?

3. If the risk category under ASCE7-10 is more stringent than the risk category under FBC, which risk category should I use for telecommunication equipment?

Situation:

Mr. Arnoldo A.Artiles, P.E., seeks clarification of code regarding what is the correct risk category for his elevated telecommunications equipment. Mr. Artiles has a project where he needs to place telecommunication equipment on an elevated platform. The elevated platform will consist of four columns, several beams and braces. An access ladder, grating and a guardrail system will be installed so that technicians can access the elevated platform and walk safely. The purpose of this platform is to carry the dad, live and wind loads safely from the telecommunication equipment down to the ground. The columns will be welded to base plates and the base plates bolted to drilled shafts.

The telecommunication service is for public cellular carriers such as AT&T, MetroPCS, Verizon, T‐Mobile, etc…. As far as emergency, in the event of equipment failure, the people with cellphones will not be able to call 911. In addition, emergency response units will not be able to triangulate the cellphone holder’s position. It is not clear whether or not this will be considered an emergency for the Florida Building Code.

Background: 

2010 Florida Building Code, Building

1602.1 Definitions

Essential Facilities – Buildings and other structures that are intended to remain operational in the event of extreme environmental loading from flood, wind, snow or earthquakes.

Risk Category - A categorization of buildings and other structures for determination of flood and wind loads based on the risk associated with unacceptable performance.

ASCE Standard 7-10

Table 1.5-1 of ASCE7-10 is shown below.   ASCE7-10 has changes the language “Occupancy Category” to “Risk Category”.

Risk category IV buildings if damaged or destroyed would cause significant loss of human life and are determined to be “designated essential facilities” Table 1.5-1 places all other non- “designated essential facilities” in I, II, and III. Risk Category I primarily farm equipment buildings (low risk to human life) and Risk category II is all other structures that don’t fall categories I, III and IV. Risk Category III buildings are NOT designated essential but could cause significant loss of life or economic and daily life disruption.

Damage or destruction of public communications structures in most cases would disrupt daily life and deemed not essential, placing them as Risk Category III structures.

Table 1.5-1 Risk Category of Buildings and Other Structures for Flood, Wind, Snow, Earthquake,

and Ice Loads

Use or Occupancy of Buildings and Structures	Risk Category
Buildings and other structures that represent a low risk to human life in the event of failure	I
All buildings and other structures except those listed in Risk Categories I, Ill, and IV	II
Buildings and other structures, the failure of which could pose a substantial risk to human life. Buildings and other structures, not included in Risk Category IV, with potential to cause a substantial economic impact and/or mass disruption of day-to-day civilian life in the event of failure. Buildings and other structures not included in Risk Category IV (including, but not limited to, facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use, or dispose of such substances as hazardous fuels, hazardous chemicals, hazardous waste, or explosives) containing toxic or explosive substances where their quantity exceeds a threshold quantity established by the authority having jurisdiction and is sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released.	III
Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities. Buildings and other structures, the failure of which could pose a substantial hazard to the community. Buildings and other structures (including, but not limited to, facilities that manufacture, process, handle, store, use, or dispose of such substances as hazardous fuels, hazardous chemicals, or hazardous waste) containing sufficient quantities of highly toxic substances where the quantity exceeds a threshold quantity established by the authority having jurisdiction to be dangerous to the public if released and is sufficient to pose a threat to the public if released." Buildings and other structures required to maintain the functionality of other Risk Category IV structures.	IV

"Buildings and other structures containing toxic, highly toxic, or explosive substances shall be eligible for classification to a lower Risk Category

if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction by a hazard assessment as described in Section 1.5.2 that a release of the substances is commensurate with the risk associated with that Risk Category .

2. The Florida Building Code in Table 1604.5 follows ASCE7-10 closely and also gives examples of some of these structures.

2010 Florida Building Code, Building

Table 1604.5
Risk Category of Buildings and other Structures

OCCUPANCY CATEGORY	NATURE OF OCCUPANCY
I	Buildings and other structures that represent a low hazard to human life in the event of failure, including but not limited to: • Agricultural facilities. • Certain temporary facilities. • Minor storage facilities.
II	Buildings and other structures except those listed in Occupancy Categories I, III and IV
III	Buildings and other structures that represent a substantial hazard to human life in the event of failure, including but not limited to: • Buildings and other structures whose primary occupancy is public assembly with an occupant load greater than 300. • Buildings and other structures containing elementary school, secondary school or day care facilities with an occupant load greater than 250. • Buildings and other structures containing adult education facilities, such as colleges and universities, with an occupant load greater than 500. • Group I-2 occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more resident patients but not having surgery or emergency treatment facilities. • Group I-3 occupancies. • Any other occupancy with an occupant load greater than 5,000^a. • Power-generating stations, water treatment facilities for potable water, waste water treatment facilities and other public utility facilities not included in Occupancy Category IV. • Buildings and other structures not included in Occupancy Category IV containing sufficient quantities of toxic or explosive substances to be dangerous to the public if released.
IV	Buildings and other structures designated as essential facilities, including but not limited to: • Group I-2 occupancies having surgery or emergency treatment facilities. • Fire, rescue, ambulance and police stations and emergency vehicle garages. • Designated earthquake, hurricane or other emergency shelters. • Designated emergency preparedness, communications and operations centers and other facilities required for emergency response. • Power-generating stations and other public utility facilities required as emergency backup facilities for Occupancy Category IV structures. • Structures containing highly toxic materials as defined by Section 307 where the quantity of the material exceeds the maximum allowable quantities of Table 307.1(2). • Aviation control towers, air traffic control centers and emergency aircraft hangars. • Buildings and other structures having critical national defense functions. • Water storage facilities and pump structures required to maintain water pressure for fire suppression.

2012 Florida Building Code, Building

102.4 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where differences occur between provisions of this code and referenced codes and standards, the provisions of this code shall apply.

Staff Recommendations:  Based on the above facts and circumstances, staff provides the following recommendations as answers to proponent’s questions:

Question 1: To the question, What risk category would my telecommunications equipment fall under ASCE7-10 Table 1.5-1, the answer is, per ASCE7- the project in question falls under risk category III.

Question 2: To the question, What risk category would my telecommunication equipment fall under FBC Table 1604.5?

the answer is, as per Table 1604.5 Florida Building Code, Building the project in question falls under risk category II.

Question 3: To the question, If the risk category under ASCE7-10 is more stringent than the risk category under FBC, which risk category should I use for telecommunication equipment?

The answer is, as per Section 102.4 of the FBC-B, the project in question falls under Risk Category II.